Weedsport Hosts DIRTcar Sportsman Series Central Region Opener
COLUMN BY: Mike Warren – DIRTCAR NORTHEAST – WEEDSPORT, NY – For many of the top Sportsman drivers in the Northeast, the road to a 2026 DIRTcar Sportsman Series title kicks off on Sunday.
The Central Region starts its six-race campaign with a stop at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY, on Sunday, May 3. Drivers will battle in a 30-lap Feature paying $1,000-to-win.
Joining the Sportsman on Sunday are the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, who’ll compete in the Icebreaker 50, which serves as a tune-up for the Super DIRTcar Series Heroes Remembered on Memorial Day weekend. The Empire Street Stock Series will also be in action.
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Here’s a look at what to watch for at Weedsport:
A Quick Start: Last season’s Central Region opener proved to be a significant step toward winning the regional championship.
Gavin Eisele won last year’s event at Weedsport and used that momentum to earn the Central Region title. The LaFargeville, NY driver finished the Region’s tour with a win, three top fives and five top 10s.
In eight Series starts at Weedsport, Eisele has finished on the podium three times, along with four top fives, and six top 10s. A win this weekend would be his fifth career Series victory.
Chasing the Top: Behind Eisele is a list of stout competitors trying to earn a regional title and gain momentum when the championship season starts in August.
Leading that group is Tyler Corcoran, who missed out on the Central title by 10 points in 2025. Corcoran, from Central Square, has never won a Series event at Weedsport, but has finished in the top 10 in four of his last five Series starts dating back to 2022. If Corcoran wins on Sunday, it’ll be his eighth career Series win.
Another driver to watch is Richard Murtaugh III, who won more Sportsman Series Features than any other driver in 2025. The Fulton, NY driver, and defending Great Lakes 75 winner at Super DIRT Week, has two Series wins at Weedsport in his career, winning the Sportsman Classic in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024.
In two Series races at Weedsport in 2025, he finished fifth and 17th.
Hunter Hollenbeck had a strong run in the Central Region opener a year ago, crossing the line in fourth. The Fulton, NY driver has a top-six finish in three of his last four Series starts, including back-to-back top fives in Central region competition.
Seven From the West: Despite not competing for a Central Region championship in 2026, drivers with title aspirations must battle against three-time Series champion Cody McPherson.
The St. Catharines, ON driver is a 25-time Series winner, including two victories at Weedsport. He’s finished on the podium in five of his last six starts at the 3/8-mile track, and his worst finish in that stretch is a sixth in the 2024 edition of the Sportsman Classic.
2026 DIRTcar Sportsman Series Central Region Schedule
Sunday, May 3/ Weedsport Speedway/Weedsport, NY
Monday, May 25/Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY
Friday, June 26/Brewerton Speedway/Central Square, NY
Wednesday, July 1/Can-Am Speedway/LaFargeville, NY*
Wednesday, July 22/Land of Legends Raceway/Canandaigua, NY*
Saturday, July 25/Fulton Speedway/Fulton, NY
*- Denotes combined event with another region
